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Augustinian Saints Jesus Christ is the beginning and end of all holiness. He is the model of obedience to God the Father, the one who has shown us that as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, he can lead us to the perfection of the Kingdom. Christ, according to St. Augustine, is the "Interior Teacher" who inspires every believer to embrace what is true and to do what is right. (click on the image below for further information)
Saints are those men and women who confirm the charism of a religious community by attaining holiness of life - which Vatican II calls "the perfection of charity" - through living fully the faith tradition they have embraced. Pictured below are some of the outstanding examples of holiness springing from the Augustinian tradition.
St. Augustine He is dressed in clothing of his time. He holds the staff that is one of the symbols of a bishop. Another symbol of a bishop is the pallium that is shown around his neck. The flaming heart and book are symbolic of "love and learning" which is the motto of all followers of Augustine. The sphere is representative of his constant search for knowledge through the sciences.
St. Monica The mother of Augustine, she is also dressed according to the period. Shown are the tears that she had shed during the many years in which she prayed for the conversion of her son. The anchor, a symbol of hope, reflects the unwavering hope, which she held that Augustine would turn to Christ, who is symbolized by the fish. The ship recalls her voyage to Italy in search of her son. The word "Jesus" reminds us that all she did during her lifetime she did for the Lord.
St. Nicholas of Tolentine He was especially known for his love and concern for the poor, often distributing bread to the needy. Above has head are three crowns that are symbolic of his religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The celestial image (star) on his chest is a traditional symbol for the saint, as a reminder to ask for his protection and guidance, with prayerful petitions for the faithful departed.
St. Rita of Cascia She is holding in her hand the cross that shows her devotion to the passion of Christ. The thorn in her forehead appeared as she was praying before an image of the crucified Christ. St. Rita is always pictured with a rose as she had requested that a rose be brought to her from her family home during a cold winter. The roses in her garden were in full bloom. The custom of blessing roses on her feast day is held in all Augustinian communities. The bees had surrounded her cradle as a baby leaving her unharmed. Tradition holds that the bees left her cradle and settled in the wall at the monastery in Cascia where they are still present.
St. Ezekiel Moreno An Augustinian Recollect Friar who was a missionary in the Philippines and later became a bishop in Colombia. The crozier is a symbol of his role as bishop. In the upper left hand corner is an image of Our Lady of the Way, patroness of the Augustinian Recollect Monastery in Moneagudo, Spain, where he began his religious life as a novice and where he died. Pope John Paul II canonized him in 1992. He is patron of those suffering from cancer.
St. Clare of Montefalco Prayer and sacrifice distinguished her life. She was especially devoted to the passion of Christ. The cross that she is holding in her hand symbolizes this. Her own heart is shown, recalling her words to her sisters; "If you seek the cross of Christ, take my heart; there you will find the suffering Lord."
Hours of Prayer This series of seven windows are appropriately titled "Sunrise to Sunset" as they remind us of the presence of God with us throughout the day and into the peaceful security of the night. Each panel of the seven windows serves as a reminder of the various times during the day when the "Liturgy of the Hours" is prayed in all religious houses. These windows remind us that our days should begin and end with prayer to God who watches over us. The schedule of prayer in the life of a religious community adds to the peaceful rhythm of the day.
Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, OAR, greets Pope John Paul II during visit to Rome On Sunday, October 6, 1991, the very promising career of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, auxiliary bishop of Sacramento, California, was cut short by a tragic automobile accident in which he was killed instantly. The bishop was 60 years old and had served the diocese of Sacramento for some 10 years as the first Hispanic bishop in the state capital since 1861. During that time he had endeared himself to clergy and people alike with his warm, outgoing manner, his tireless efforts to help others, and his special concern for the youth and for the poor. The statue and plaza now dedicated in his honor, and which stand between the diocesan cathedral and the state capitol, give eloquent testimony to the regard that the people of that city have for a true pastoral leader. Bishop Gallegos was born February 20, 1931, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was one of 11 children, including a twin brother, three other brothers and six sisters. Bishop Gallegos was a fourth generation Mexican American. He labored for most of his life with a debilitating eye condition that, after a series of unsuccessful operations, left him practically blind. He faced his handicap with great courage, never allowing it to prevent him from fulfilling what he regarded as his duties as a religious and a pastor of souls. After attending public schools in Los Angeles, Bishop Gallegos attended Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Missouri; St. Thomas College, Sparkill, New York; St. John University, New York; and Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. He gained Master of Arts degrees in psychology, education and religious studies, and a Master of Education degree in inner city education. Bishop Gallegos entered the Augustinian Recollect Monastery, Kansas City, in 1950, and completed studies at Tagaste Monastery, Suffern, New York. He was ordained to the priesthood May 24, 1958, in Suffern, in the Order of Augustinian Recollects and celebrated his first Mass June 8, 1958, at San Miguel Parish, Los Angeles. Later on, he served as professor of psychology and theology, prefect of professed students, assistant prior at Tagaste, and chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital. Bishop Gallegos served pastorates at San Miguel Parish, located in the Watts area of Los Angeles, 1972-1979, and at Cristo Rey Parish in Los Angeles, 1978-79. He also served on the Archdiocesan Advisory Board of Education in Los Angeles. During his pastorate at San Miguel, he actively participated, with Cardinal Timothy Manning, Archbishop of Los Angeles, in establishing a program for Spanish-speaking permanent deacons, one of the first of its kind in the U.S. He also spent a great deal of time walking the streets of the violence and gang ridden area of Watts, speaking constantly with the young people of the area and trying to persuade them to embrace a better way of life through the promotion of educational and social programs. In 1979 Bishop Gallegos was appointed director for the division of Hispanic Affairs for the California Catholic Conference. He moved to Sacramento at that time, taking residence at St. Rose Rectory, Sacramento. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento on September 1, 1981, and was ordained bishop November 4, 1981, by Bishop Francis A. Quinn at the Cathedral of Blessed Sacrament. Bishop Gallegos left a lasting impression wherever he went and is remembered fondly by a great number of people, many of whom openly admit that they regard him as a holy man, if not a saint, and even pray for his intercession in helping to obtain an answer to their prayers. There is a movement afoot among the Augustinian Recollects to gather information on the life and work of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos with the idea of one day introducing his cause as a "saint for our times," one who made a difference through the faith he always held in his heart, his total commitment to the way of life he had chosen to embrace, and the people he was always motivated to serve.
Statue and Plaza in Sacramento, California Dedicated
to Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, OAR |
